Most of us only dream about wandering this lonely planet, eating exotic dishes and visiting the sites that always end up in those 1,000 Places to See Before You Die books our grandparents keep giving us for Christmas. One day, we think, as we flip through page after page of beautiful landscapes that beckon to us. But that will never be a problem for baby Esme. At just 10 months old, she’s already seen more of this planet than many will in their lifetime. One question: Will she remember any of it?
Esme didn’t, of course, accomplish her trip all by herself (as hilarious as the thought of watching a baby navigating a rail system might be) but spend her time in the backpack of her parents, Karen Edwards and Shaun Baynes, who put their home for rent and took off around the world, starting in New Zealand. Did people think Edwards and Baynes were crazy for selling their car and choosing to backpack instead of chilling at home getting to know their new baby? Sure. But, as Metro reports, Edwards thought that this would be the best way to connect with her new child and “utilise her maternity leave to the best of her abilities.”
Lest you think this was a frivolous spur-of-the-moment decision, Edwards points out that she and her partner did lots of research before embarking on their world tour, to keep costs down:
… as well as having Karen’s maternity pay, Shaun, a landscaper, had saved up money from jobs for the trip, which cost around £10,000 in total. They also booked most of the flights months in advance, often using air miles to get discounts.
What they got in return was priceless: a baby that’s a seasoned traveler (she never has to leave the house again!) and a unique photo album that documents her adventures. Imagine what Esme’s bedtime stories will look like when she’s old enough to ask for them. Forget fairy tales; she’s going to hear about all that time she spent in the rainforest instead.
